Word

beam

noun C1

/ˈbiːm/

Meanings

noun

A long, strong piece of material used to support weight, especially in construction.

noun

A narrow stream of light, especially from a lamp, flashlight, or the sun.

verb

To smile widely and warmly, showing great happiness or pride.

Definition

A beam is a long, sturdy piece of wood, metal, or concrete used to support weight in a structure.

A beam is a strong horizontal or diagonal support used in buildings, bridges, and other structures. It carries loads and helps distribute weight safely to columns or walls. The word can also mean a narrow ray of light or a broad, happy smile.

Examples

Engineers inspected the beam for corrosion before approving the renovation plan.
I followed the beam from my headlamp as I navigated the unlit trail back to camp.
She began to beam when her research team announced the results at the conference.
They reinforced the old stone arch with a hidden beam to improve stability without changing the design.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse the noun and verb forms and say “a beam” when they mean “to beam” (for example, “She had a beam” instead of “She began to beam”).